Pierzynski, White Sox edge Red Sox

Baseball Betting Lines

07/20/2007 - Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A.J. Pierzynski had three hits and knocked in three runs, and Paul Konerko homered, as the White Sox topped the Boston Red Sox, 4-2, in a game that started nearly two hours late due to rain.

Javier Vazquez (7-5) scattered nine hits and surrendered two runs over 6 1/3 innings to win his fourth straight decision, as the White Sox opened the four- game series on a positive note. Bobby Jenks threw the ninth inning for his 26th save, as Chicago won for the third time four games following a three-game skid.

"He's been doing it his last two outings. His last two outings he's been doing the same stuff, but he's stayed in the game and kept us close in the game," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said of Vazquez. "That's all you can ask from the starting pitcher. He battled against a pretty good hitting ball club."

Dustin Pedroia had three hits and knocked in a run for the Red Sox, who have lost three in a row and eight of 11. Boston lost a chance to increase its lead to eight games in the AL East over the Yankees, who lost at home to Toronto earlier in the day.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (11-7) was lifted after giving up two hits and three runs with a career-high six walks and six strikeouts in five-plus innings.

"First couple of hitters (Matsuzaka) was in his delivery so well," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "The ball was coming out of his hands so crisp. And then he ran into some spots where, what did he have, six walks, seemed like they were all grouped in. There were innings where he, not lost it but just didn't command for 15 pitches."

Matsuzaka walked Tadahito Iguchi, Jim Thome and Konerko to begin the sixth before giving up a two-run single to right by Pierzynski, which gave Chicago a 3-2 lead. That was the final batter for Matsuzaka, who was replaced by Manny Delcarmen. The White Sox loaded the bases later in the inning, but Delcarmen pitched out of trouble.

The Red Sox put two runners on base again in the seventh, but Manny Ramirez flew out to deep right-center field with Jerry Owens making the catch just in front of the wall. Ryan Bukvich struck out Kevin Youkilis to end the threat.

Hideki Okajima, who hadn't allowed a run in his previous 15 appearances, gave up a homer to Konerko leading off the eighth. Konerko belted a 1-1 offering over the Green Monster, tight to the left field line, for his 21st homer. Incredibly, it was just the second homer allowed by Okajima in 42 career games, as he gave up one to Kansas City's John Buck on his first pitch in the majors.

After the long delay, the White Sox struck immediately in the first. Thome and Konerko walked with two outs, and Pierzynski followed with an RBI single to right field.

Boston wasted a chance with runners at the corners in the first, but went ahead 2-1 in the next inning. Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek singled, and one out later Julio Lugo beat out a potential double play ball to tie the game. Coco Crisp and Pedroia followed with base hits to give the Red Sox the lead. However, Crisp was tagged out in a rundown to end the inning.

Game Notes

Lugo has a nine-game hitting streak...Vazquez is 2-4 lifetime against Boston...The Red Sox are 13-12 at Fenway Park since May 30...This was the first meeting between the teams this season. Boston went 4-2 in the 2006 matchup...Konerko has 13 homers and 30 RBI in his last 35 games beginning June 10.

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Super Bowl 2009 Betting

Super Bowl 2009 Betting propositions

Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.

Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.

Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.

If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.

Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.

By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.

In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.

So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.

While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.

There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.

In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:

SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.

XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.

XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.

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